Will NGC 458 Do It

[leon]

Hi guys, it is my ambition tonight to image the SMC, and was wondering if i told Gemini to locate NGC 458 it would just about center the SMC in my field of view, would this be about right, or can someone suggest alternate means of centering this object, without manual aligning, using the laser.

Many thanks


Leon

[Barrykgerdes]

Hi Leon

I think NGC290 would be a better bet. It is pretty close to the centre of the smc but you will need a wide angle shot It is 215 arc minutes that is close to 4 degrees if you want to get it all the smc in.

Barry

[leon]

Thanks Barry, I will try your suggestion, and don't worry I will get it in OK the Tak has a 9 degree of view, many thanks.

Leon

[Barrykgerdes]

That should give a pretty good shot.

Barry

[h0ughy (David)]

lets hope he got it?

[leon]

Yea, he got it alright, stayed up till 4am and got half the SMC, I reckon I should have got a good slap around the head, for being to cocky, and not checking stuff.

Will post half of the SMC later.

Leon

[RB (Andrew)]

So Leon what happened, how did you end up with only half of the SMC?

Do you do a quick check on some test frames to see how they're framed up?

[gmbfilter (Geoff)]

Mate, wot about NGC 292..pretty close!

[leon]

Well Andrew, usually I do, but seeing that I had just did a cold start and aligned on three stars i figured that all was well, but it was not.

I checked the focus, and all that sort of stuff, sent it on its way and by a visual, by that I mean just looking up, it looked pretty right.

It was getting late, or should I say early, and at 7 minute subs, with ICNR, it would be a waste of 14 minutes.

Yea, I know, now I pay for it, and I basically stood there watching it image for, 15 frames at, 14 minutes each, hmmm, a total of 3.5 hours, and only got half of it.

Bugger, but it will be still there tomorrow, here is the half SMC, now i will post it the right place

Leon

[RB (Andrew)]

That's unfortunate Leon.

What I usually do is I take a test shot of around 2 min at say 1600 ISO, no ICNR.
Then check the test shot in PS, stretch it so I can see how it's framed and once I'm happy with the framing then I do the proper run.

[Barrykgerdes]

Well
You got it half right. NGC290 / NGC292 is right about the centre at the very bottom (?) of the shot but you will need the same amount of aperture again at the bottom to get it all next time.

I wish I could do even as good as what you have done.

Barry

[leon]

Yea Barry half right is true never mind it makes for good discussion on IIS.

Leon

[gbeal]

I can see a mosaic coming here, LOL.

[leon]

No Mosaic Gary, sorry, but you will get a full SMC captured last night, or should I say early this morning, will post it shortly.

Leon